Introduction

Optometry is a subdivision of primary health care, which involves the examination of the refractive errors of eyes (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia) and binocular vision impairment (obvious and non-obvious deviations of the eye, lazy eye), as well as the manufacturing of medical and telescope glasses, contact lenses and diagnosis of vision disorders.

In Iran, the field of optometry was first established in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran in 1974. After the Islamic Revolution, the continuous MSc of this field was initiated. Currently, given the needs of the community, this field is offered in four medical universities in Iran, including Shahid Beheshti, Mashhad and Zahedan universities, and the MSc courses are available in the medical universities of Shahid Beheshti, Iran and Mashhad as well.

For the first time in Iran, the Council of Medical Universities agreed to present the intermittent MSc courses of optometry in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) in 2003 by admitting six students in September 2004 through the national entrance exam for universities. In addition, the MSc of optometry was simultaneously established in Iran and Shahid Beheshti universities. Currently, primary agreements have been reached for starting the PhD courses of optometry in MUMS, and the outlines of these courses are being decided.

Aims of the Department:

v  Training of specialized and skilled human workforce for recruitment in clinics and physician offices, who are also able to communicate well and gain the trust of the patients after their examination.

v  Presenting fundamental and practical research projects to evaluate vision and eye disorders

v  Conducting practical research in the manufacturing of the optical devices used by optometrists

v  Counseling to the Department of Motor Vehicles with regards to the vision tests for drivers

v  Counseling to airline companies for the specialized tests of vision depth and color vision in the recruitment of pilots

v  Counseling to factories regarding the use of standard lighting systems in the work environment and presenting proper strategies to protect vision and prevent damages to the eye and vision system in work

Exclusive library:

This library has specialized optometry books and journals in English and the theses of the field’s graduates.